Board of directors
Jimi Cook
Co-Founder, Board Chairman
Columbia, MO
Co-Founder, Board Chairman
Columbia, MO
Jimi and Cristi Cook founded Be The Change Volunteers in 2007 during a supposed “one time” school building project in Rwanda (BTCV 001). The organization has grown beyond their wildest dreams, and more importantly, has held true to its mission of empowering communities through sustainable education-focused development aid. Jimi’s BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) for BTCV is to complete at least 100 projects during his lifetime. In his “day job”, Jimi serves as the Allen Distinguished Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery and Director of the Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics and Mizzou BioJoint Center at the University of Missouri.
Cristi Cook
Co-Founder and Secretary/Treasurer
Columbia, MO
Co-Founder and Secretary/Treasurer
Columbia, MO
Cristi is the Co-founder of Be the Change Volunteers. She and her husband Jimi have served and led teams on education focused development aid projects all over the world. Cristi volunteers countless hours each year recording and depositing donations for BTCV among many other tasks that keep the organizations lights on every day. In her “day job,” Cristi serves as an assistant professor for the Thompson Laboratory for Regenerative Orthopaedics and Mizzou BioJoint Center at the University of Missouri and "freelance" veterinary radiologist.
Julie Estes
Board Member
St. Louis, MO
Board Member
St. Louis, MO
Julie is a former teacher with years of experience in early childhood education at Central Christian School in the St. Louis are. Today her favorite job and focus is being a mom to her two children. She is highly involved at her church and enjoys mentoring young people and participating in a weekly Bible study. She has served on the BTCV Advisory Council for several years and shares the organizations Big Harry Audacious Goal of 100 projects by supporting, promoting, and spreading the word about Be the Change Volunteers.
Linda Karl
Board Member
Columbia, MO
Board Member
Columbia, MO
Linda is a Compliance Manager for a safety insurance company. She has served BTCV for many years as a project volunteer, team leader, chapter leader and advisory council member. She has served with BTCV in India, Papua New Guinea, Rwanda, Kansas City (USA) and Puerto Rico (USA). Her area of expertise is workplace safety which is truly needed in developing world construction. She and her husband Tom have 4 daughters and 8 grandchildren. She enjoys volunteering at her church, knitting, reading, golfing and hanging out with family and friends. She is most passionate about hand delivering hope to children through the gift of education!
Chris Adejo
Board Member
Columbia, MO
Board Member
Columbia, MO
Chris was born and raised in Nigeria where he served as one of the countries top legal officials as the Resident State Counsel which is the equivalent of the US Assistant Attorney General. In that position he argued cases before the Nigerian Supreme court. Today he lives in Columbia, Missouri and works for the University of Missouri at the Missouri Orthopedic Institute. Chris has a deep understanding of the difficulties that education providers face in underdeveloped countries. His perspective is so valuable in guiding our decisions and being diligent with donor funds. In his free time Chris spends time with his wife and children, serves at his church, and enjoys photography. Chris is passionate about the way that an education and hard work can change the world.
Pam Plouhar
Board Member
South Bend, IN
Board Member
South Bend, IN
Pam is a recently retired executive from Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices. She has a passion for encouraging and developing youth and has volunteered with a variety of different organizations focused on youth leadership development. Education is an important part of that development and BTCV offers an opportunity to encourage youth development globally. Pam and her husband Neil, who live in South Bend Indiana have participated in several BTCV builds in Central and South America. In her spare time enjoys outdoor activities including golf, yard work, training dogs and travel.
Marc Scott
Board Member
Kansas City, MO
Board Member
Kansas City, MO
Marc is a banker in Kansas City, MO. He participated in his first build with his wife, Sadie, on Peru phase 1 in 2014. Since then, Marc has participated on projects in India, Malawi, Rwanda, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Kansas City (USA) and Puerto Rico (USA). Marc is a past member of the Advisory Council and an active member of the Finance Committee. He loves traveling, the outdoors and his English bulldogs.
Executive Team
Grant Venable
Director of Change
Phoenix, AZ
Director of Change
Phoenix, AZ
Grant is the Director of Change at Be The Change Volunteers, “DOC”. He has led teams and served on projects in North America, Asia, Africa, South America and the Pacific Islands. He runs the day to day operations for BTCV and coordinates all projects. He is experienced in the business sector, light construction, international project management, and emergency medical rescue. Grant currently lives in Arizona with his wife and two daughters. The family loves warm weather, hiking, biking and all things outdoors!
Debbie Waggoner
Executive Coordinator of Change
Columbia, MO
Executive Coordinator of Change
Columbia, MO
Debbie retired from State Farm Insurance in September, 2016 after working there for over 40 years. She now serves as Executive Coordinator of Change and Chief Compassion Officer for BTCV. Working daily with the co-founders and director, Debbie ensures that every volunteer is taken care of. She follows her passion of going on builds to help change lives and build relationships with Changers and the people of the communities where BTCV has projects. Debbie has been on builds in India, Malawi, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Puerto Rico.
Thato Mabena
Director of Field Operations, Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
Director of Field Operations, Africa
Johannesburg, South Africa
Thato is a graduate of Tshwane University of Technology in Pretoria, South Africa. He is a professional freelance photographer and also serves as BTCV's Director of Field Operations for Africa. He is an optimistic individual who always has a positive outlook on life with an eagerness to learn.
He has volunteered on projects in Malawi, Tanzania and Puerto Rico. In addition he has served on special field assignments for BTCV in Africa. In his free time he enjoys reading, jogging, traveling and helping others.
Advisory Council
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Greg Jones - Legal
Vice President Central Trust Company Columbia, MO Ted Kettlewell - Engineering Vice President OCCI, Inc Columbia, MO Dusty Hoffman - Security Captain Missouri State Highway Patrol Columbia, MO Adam Dube - Education Administration Head of School Randolph School Huntsville, AL Norm Chong - Business Global Business Development Manager Agilent Technologies Austin, TX Scott Daugherty - Construction Owner Fairway Meadows Corporation Columbia, MO Antonio Pozzi - International/Europe Professor of Veterinary Surgery University of Zurich Zurich, Switzerland Chris Adejo - International/Africa Office Support Asst./Patient Coordinator, Limb Preservation Center, Missouri Orthopaedic Institute, Columbia, MO Stefano Pozzi - International/Europe Business Advisor Retired Genoa, Italy Joe Reardon - Endowment Strategy Financial Adviser, CFP Stifel Columbia, MO Diane Lewis - Business Veterinary Dermatologist Institute of Veterinary Specialists Gainesville, FL Peter Stiepleman Superintendent - Retired Columbia Public Schools Columbia, MO Elizabeth Kieru Early Childhood Education African Culture Columbia, Mo |
Erin Burri - Business
Past Board Member Real Estate ReMax Columbia, Mo Shari Hamilton - Business Past Board Member Veterinarian IDEXX Columbia, MO Glenn Willett - Business Past Board Member Retired IBM Columbus, OH Doug Willett - Business Past Board Member Executive Vice President Commercial Development Company, Inc Chicago, IL John Heidrich - Business Past Board Member Veterinarian Ventena Animal Clinic Albuquerque, NM Brian Van Vechten - Business Past board Member Veterinarian VRCC Denver, CO |
